Recoil pad for a gun stock



3,007,272 RECGIL PAD FOR A GUN STOCK Frank A. Pachmayr, 1220 S. Grand Ave,

Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Mar. 36, 1959, Ser. No. 802,928 2 Claims. (Cl. 42-74) This invention has to do with improvements in. recoil pads of the type applicable to the ends of rifle or shot gum stocks, and comprising generally a rubber CllShlOIl body containing internal reinforcement and means for attaching the pad to the stock.

My general object is to improve such pads in the re' body, preferably molded thereto, and otherwise so related that the body presents a reduced area cushion intermediate the plate and gun stock, and a full area shoulder-engaging cushion at the outside of the plate.

In accordance with the invention, 1 have departed from conventional proposals to internally support a rubber recoil pad body and provide for attachment means through the use of one or more flat plates, by molding the body to a relatively rigid plate having a peripheral flange projecting inwardly of the pad, and by extending the rubber body beyond the flange to form a reduced area cushion between the flange and the gun stock. Preferably, I mold the body to the plate so as to provide a rubber rim about and extending beyond the edge of the flange, all in a manner such that the inside of the plate is exposed, and the surrounding body rim outside of the flange provides effectively for peripheral conformance to the end of the gun stock as the pad is applied thereto, and thereafter as an appreciable adjunct to the recoil cushioning effect of the pad.

The invention further aims to permit attachment of the recoil pad to gun stocks having previously formed screw holes, the spacing of which may vary in different instances. In accomplishing this object I form the plate with slots extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to pass screws inserted through the outer cushion portion of the pad at variable spacings corresponding to the locations of such screw holes as may previously have been formed in the gun stock. In this manner the pad may be positioned in conformance with the end shape of the stock and the screws given a range of independent positioning and spacing as required for any particular installation.

All the various features and objects of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be understood more fully from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the recoil pad assembly, partly in section, applied to a gun stock;

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section and in elevation taken on broken line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the pad-contained metal plate as viewed from the inside; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section on line M of FIG. 3.

The recoil pad structure, generally indicated at 10, is shown to be attached to the end of a conventional gun s am Patented Nov. .7, 1961 stock 11 and peripherally shaped in conformance with the linearly projected shape and contour of the stock,

The pad structure 10 may be reduced in its required components to essentially two parts, an elastorneric body 12 composed of natural or synthetic rubber, and an internal relatively rigid plate 13 formed preferably of steel or other rigid metal, integrally bonded to the rubber 12 as by molding the latter against and about the plate. As will be apparent, the possibility in accordance with the invention of affording desirably rigid support for a pad capable of effectively cushioning the gun recoil, through the use of the single metal plate and rubber body components in the particular relationship shown, permits production of a high quality'recoil pad at minimum cost.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the plate 13 is shown to parallel generally the peripheral shape of the pad 12 and to have an integral peripheral flange 14 turned inwardly (toward the gun stock) at substantially uniform spacing from the periphery of the pad. In addition to the stiffening effect of the flange 14, the plate may be further rigidized as by a pair of longitudinal ribs 15 formed together with the flange 14 and a pair of elongated slots 16 in die stamping the plate out of sheet metal stock. As seen in FIG. 4, the ribbing 15 is spaced from a plane defined by the flange terminal or edge, and so does not interfere with the function of the flange.

The rubber body 12 is molded and bonded to the outer surface of the plate 13, and also to the outside of the flange 14' where the rubber has a flange or rim portion 17 surrounding and projecting beyond the plate flange. The rubber may overlie the inner edge of the flange or projection at 18 from the outer surface of the flange, the

latter and illustrated relation being preferred. The projecting rim portion 17 of the rubber provides a cushion having a stock contact area substantially less than the total cross-sectional area of the pad, thus enabling the reduced area rim to be fully and tightly conformed to the end surface of the gun stock and to serve, by reason of the spacing of flange 14 from the stock, as a cushion capable of assuming a portion of the recoil forces. Thus the inner face and area of the plate 13 are exposed and spaced from the end of the gun stock, in distinction to prior practices of interposing a cushion between the entire area of a supporting and reinforcing plate, so that here the innermost cushioning effect is confined to the peripheral area of the pad about the plate, and the rubber is so held permanently, by the flanged configuration of the plate. Thus, it is clear that the bulk of the recoil loading is transmitted with shear cushioning effect from the rubber flange or rim 17 to the plate flange 14 and then to the main extent 13 of the plate for ultimate transmission to the body 12.

At the outside of the plate, the rubber body 12 is made relatively thick in longitudinal section and is molded with internal apertures to assure desirable soft cushioning. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pad has a central longitudinal web 18 at opposite sides of which the rubber is apertured or recessed at 19. Enlargements 20 of the web contain elongated openings 21 which register with slots 16 in the plate 13 to accommodate the attachment screws 22. The rubber at the outsides of openings 21 contains small openings or cuts 23 normally substantially closed by the elasticity of the rubber, but expansible to the extent of permitting insertion through them of the screws 22.

As previously explained, it is frequently desirable to mold the pad to a gun stock containing previously formed screw holes, and to conform the spacing of the screws 22 to that of the existing holes. This becomes easily possible since the holes are always centered transversely of the stock and the plate slots 16 and openings 21 in the pad permitting shifting of the screws into ali gnrnent with any previously formed screw holes. When properly positioned the screws may be turned into the stock to bring the rubber rim -17 tightly against its .end face, 'by a screwdriver inserted through the pad I-cla'un; 1. A recoil pad applicable to a gun stock, comprising a relatively rigid elongated reinforcing plate peripherally flanged to have a substantially u-shaped cross section opening at the gun stock side of the pad, and a rubber 'body bonded to the outside of the plate opposite said opening and also to the outside of said flanged periphery, the rubber body projecting beyond the flanged periphery in the direction thereof to terminate at a spacing from the plate that is at least about twicethe spacinglof the flange terminal from the plate, thereby to provide a cushion .engageable with the stock for spacing said flanged periphery from the gun stock so that recoil forces are transmitted from the stock to the cushion, then through said cushion to said flanged periphery and thence througlr the plate area inside said periphery to the main pQflion Of the rubber bodybonded to the voutside-of said area,

said cushion being substantially entirely at the voutside of the open area of the flangedplate.

2. A recoil pad applicable to a gun'stock, comprising a relatively rigid elongated reinforcing plate peripherally flanged to have a substantially U.-shaped cross section being long tu in y e fito f en t eP -at 'a g f opening at the side of the pad applieable to the stook,

and a' rubber body bonded to the outside {of the plate oppositesaid opening and also to theioutsideof said flanged periphery,tthe rubber bodyprojecting beyondthe flanged periphery in the direction thereof to terminate r at a spacing from the plate flange, thereby to providea cushion engageable with, the stock for spacing sa1d flanged periphery from the gun stock'during use of the pad so that recoil forces are transmitted from the stool; i

to the cushion, then through saidcushio-n to said flangedperiphery and thence through the'plate area'insidelsaid periphery to the main portion of the rubber body bonded r to the outside of said area, said cushion being substam' tially entirely fatfllfi outside of the open area Of'lhfi flanged plate, the plate containing elongated slotsspified 7 ap longitudinally a n h p at o rew r n fa ten r to project the plate for attachment to the stock, the

slots permitting relative longitudinal adjustment the:

fasteners and plate during usefof .th e pad, said late flexiute, said'ribbing 'being spaced a'plane defined by the flange term'inah a 

